Two-part packaging container of plastic for



April 14, 1964 z. HOHNJEC R 3,128,933

TWO-PART PACKAGING CONTAINER OF PLASTIC FOR. CARRYING SENSITIVE MATERIAL Filed June 11, 1962 INVENTOR. ZELJKO HOHNJ EC DEzsoE STEIN H 6&7.

ATT R NEY United States Patent 3,128,933 TWG PART PAGKAGTNG QGNTAINER OF PLASTiC FUR CARRYENG SENSITiVE MATERIAL Zeljko Hohnjec, Gonzagagasse 17, Vienna 1, Austria Filed lune 11, 1962, Ser. No. 291,407 Ciairns priority, application Austria Jane 13, 1961 1 (Jlaim. ((Ii. 229-25) This invention relates to a two-part packing container of plastic, e.g., of polystyrene, which container is particularly suitable for carrying sensitive material. It is an object of the invention to subject the material carried in the container, e.g., perishable soft fruit, to continuous ventilation. Besides, the packing container should protect the material, which in most cases is susceptible to pressure, from any deterioration in transit. Finally, the container should be constructed for use also as a sales container so that the material can be transferred from the producer via the wholesaler and retailer to the buyer and user without need for a single repacking,

To accomplish all these objects, it is suggested according to the invention to provide the two tub-shaped parts of the container, consisting of thin-walled plastic, along their rims with spaced interengaging pegs and eyes, which so extend toward each other from the rims that the mutually opposite rims define gaps for the passage of fresh air.

For carrying material consisting of small pieces, such as soft fruit, the rims of the container are suitably provided between the interengaging pegs or eyes with a number of projections, which form a fence that prevents the fruit from falling out. This design of the container part enables the provision of a relatively large gap so that sufiicient fresh air can enter the container. The container walls are preferably provided on their inside surfaces adjacent to these fresh air gaps with groovelike depressions, which enable an access of fresh air also to the bottom of the container parts.

Besides, the two container parts are designed for being nested in a stack for carriage when empty so that carrying costs will be reduced. The bottom of one part of the container may be provided with a depression, which is engageable by an elevation formed on the bottom of the other part so that filled containers which are superimposed to form a stack are locked in the transverse direction.

The invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing a container embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIII of 7 FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a second embodiment in a view similar to FIG. 1.

In the drawing, 1 denotes the base and 2 the top or cover of the container of the invention. The example shown is relatively elongated and narrow and can hold, e.g., about one pound of soft fruit. The bottom 3 of the base is drawn inwardly to form a depression, which fittingly receives the protruding bottom 4 of a cover 2 of an underlying container. The rims 5 of the two container parts are outwardly beaded. Along the rims of the base 1, upwardly directed pegs 6 are provided, which have a depression 7 so that an eye is formed. In the example shown, four such eyes 7 are provided on either longitudinal side.

The inside wall of the container part is provided between the eyes with vertical grooves 8, which permit fresh air to pass to the bottom of the container part. The closed horizontal groove 9 formed between the inwardly drawn bottom and the side wall improves the ventilation. The side walls of the container taper downwardly and a concave portion 11 on the outside of the wall corresponds to the inward bulge 10 forming each peg 6. This enables any desired number of container parts to be nested. Such containers are preferably made by vacuum-forming a sheet, e.g., of polystyrene, against a mold.

The top or cover 2 of the container is similar to the base but the pegs 6 have projections 12 rather than depressions and these projections 12 can enter the eyes 7 of the appertaining base 1. These tops or covers 2 can also be nested to form a stack in any desired number.

It will be understood that the cover 2 may be lower than the base i of the container covered by it. The gap may have any desired clear width provided that the packaged material cannot come out through the gap.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, rows of projections 13 are arranged between the pegs 6 to form a fence. This prevents even small pieces of packaged material to fall out of a gap of sufiiciently large size.

If the two parts are fairly identical, with the exception of the pegs and eyes and the bottom, it is found desirable to make the associated container parts in different colors to facilitate the work of the packers.

The material to be packaged, such as strawberries, mushrooms, grapes, is placed into the package by the picker directly at the place where it is grown, whereafter the package is closed. A rubber strip may be drawn around the container parts to hold them together. The closed containers are stacked and may be shipped in any desired shipping cases. Because the weight of the package is very light, or in any case is known, it is not necessary to remove the material from the package and to weigh it separately when it is being sold. Thus, the package affords the advantage that the material to be carried is protected from the place of production to the place where it is consumed and is prevented from perishing because it is constantly ventilated.

In the case of particularly small berries, which might fall out through the gap, the gap or fence at the rims of the container may be protected with a fine-mesh screen, e.g., of polyethylene. This screen can easily be fastened to books, which are suitably provided adjacent to the rims.

What I claim is:

A two-part packaging container consisting of plastic material, for the transport of easily perishable material, comprising two tub-shaped parts having registering rim portions facing each other and interengaging spacing means arranged along said rims, said spacing means consisting of pegs and registering depressions, respectively, said pegs and depressions holding the assembled parts of the container in spaced position in order to provide a gap between said parts for allowing for the passing of air between said assembled parts, the rims of the tub-shaped parts being provided with a series of spaced projections forming a fence for preventing small pieces of packaged material from falling out from the container.

Lurie Dec. 22, 1959 Kuhl Sept. 19, 1961 

